FURTHER MEANS OF INTERCOURSE. 513 



In all 90 Ri 31 Cho. 

 or 356*84 kilometers. At present in process of construction : — 



6. Takasaki-Ogaki 275 km. 



Besides which the following are projected : — 



7. Osaka-Sakai 1 1 km. 



8. Ogaki-Yokkalchi 53 » 



8. Uyeda-Niigata 235 „ 



10. Tokio-Awomori ...... 705 „ 



11. Fukuoka-Kumamoto. 



12. Miike-Kumamoto. 



After the completion of No. 6, the principal line along the 

 Naka-sen-do from Yokohama to Hiogo via Tokio, Takasaki, 

 Uyeda, Ogaki, Otsu, Kioto and Osaka, will build branch lines to 

 Sakai, Tsuruga, Yokkaichi and Niigata. 



All the roads now in operation were built by English engineers 

 commissioned by the government, and were provided with English 

 rolling stock, but came then under administration and service of 

 the Japanese, who proved themselves fully equal to their new tasks, 

 so that no great accidents are reported up to this time. The first 

 line, from Tokio to Yokohama, was opened on the 12th of June, 

 1872. All classes of inhabitants were soon delighted with it and 

 patronized it so extensively that a desire for the benefits of the new 

 means of communication was excited in other parts of the country. 

 The second road, from Osaka to Hiogo, was opened on the iith of 

 May, 1874, and in the following years was extended from Osaka 

 to Kioto, until on the 15th of July, 1880, the track from Kioto to 

 Otsu on Lake Biwa was added. Then followed railway lines from 

 Nagahama^ to Tsuruga and Ogaki, on which, as on the track from 

 Kioto to Otsu, pupils of the School of Engineers received their 

 practical training, under English direction. The junction between 

 Otsu and Nagahama was temporarily effected by steamboat, but the 

 time seems not far distant when a railway will girdle the lake and 

 supersede the steamer. Of a more recent date among the railroads 

 at present in operation is the one from Tokio to Takasaki, opened 

 in May, 1884, by the Mikado. It is the first one planned, built 

 and worked by the Japanese without foreign help. Although 

 rolling stock is still imported from a foreign country (America), 

 rails are now being manufactured or cast at Ikuno, near Kobe, and 



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